Saddling up to help Lake Louisa

Horse riders compete on obstacle course to raise park money

October 22, 2006|By Martin E. Comas, Sentinel Staff Writer

CLERMONT -- About 100 riders saddled up their horses Saturday and took a challenging ride on the trails at Lake Louisa State Park.

In doing so, they raised more than $2,000 to benefit the Friends of Lake Louisa State Park, a volunteer group that will use the money to enhance trails, restore animal habitats and put on workshops throughout the year.

Saturday's ride was a competition, but it wasn't to see which horse could go through the five-mile course the fastest. Rather, the judges watched how well a horse could negotiate 10 man-made obstacles placed along the trails.

For example, horses had to walk across shallow water, cross over several pine trees lying on the ground, drag a 15-gallon barrel attached to a long rope around a group of tables, pass under two buckets raised up by tractors, and walk through spraying water.

Riders were awarded points on how well they controlled their horses through each obstacle.

Danise Martinez, 53, led Sueete, her 5-year-old Arabian horse, through the water obstacle without a hitch.

"We know each other very well," Martinez of Winter Garden said while patting her horse. "I'm trying to get her in shape for other competitions."

About twice a month, Martinez comes to the south Lake County park to ride Sueete.

Every year, she says she finds fewer places to ride around her west Orange County neighborhood, as more homes and businesses are developed on rural land.

"There still are places where I can go riding," Martinez said. "But you have more semis and cars, and some people don't understand how to drive near a horse."

Laurie Ramsey, 40, who took part in the obstacle challenge with her quarter horse, Jody, agreed.

Ramsey lives in Land O' Lakes, a small rural community in Pasco County that has also seen fast development.

"When I was young, you could ride almost everywhere," she said. "But it's getting harder to do that."

That's why there should be more parks with equestrian trails and events like the one at Lake Louisa State Park, said Tammy Herrera, 40, of Mims.

"The parks are getting much better for people with horses," she said while sitting on her 3-year-old horse, Lilly.

When Herrera is closer to home, she often rides Lilly at the Salt Lake Wildlife Management Area and the William Beardall Tosohatchee State Reserve, both in Brevard County.

Brian Sheets, a ranger at Lake Louisa State Park and a horse-riding enthusiast, said the obstacle-riding contest takes place every March and October. Organizers limit it to 100 riders, even though it draws the interest of hundreds of people.